Conversion Of Furfuryl Alcohol Research Articles

Programmed Charge Transfer in Conjugated Polymers with Pendant Benzothiadiazole Acceptor for Simultaneous Photocatalytic H2O2 Production and Organic Synthesis.

While being important candidate for heterogeneous photocatalyst, conjugated polymer typically exhibits random charge transfers between the alternating donor and acceptor units, which severely limits its catalytic efficiency. Herein, inspired by natural photosystem, the concept of guiding the charge migration to specific reaction sites is employed to significantly boost photocatalytic performance of linear conjugated polymers (LCPs) with pendant functional groups via creating programmed charge-transfer channels from the backbone to its pendant moiety. The pendant benzothiadiazole, as revealed in both in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, can act as electron "reservoir" that aggregates electrons at the active sites. Moreover, the presence of charge-transfer channels, evidenced by transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), accelerates the electron transfer, preventing the recombination of electrons and holes. As a result, in this elaborately-designed architecture, the photogenerated electron can move smoothly towards the reduction sites, facilitating the reduction of O2 into H2O2, while remaining holes are directed to oxidation centers, simultaneously oxidizing furfuryl alcohol to furoic acid. The optimized photocatalyst LCP-BT demonstrates a competitive catalytic performance with H2O2 productivity of 868.3 μmol L-1 h-1 (9.8 times higher than conventional random charge-transfer polymer LCP-1) and furfuryl alcohol conversion over 95% after 6 h.

Robust synergistic effect between Zn1Mo1 bifunctional TiO2 for efficient ethyl levulinate production from furfural alcohol

Bifunctional ZnxMoy-TiO2 were prepared through sol-gel methodology for efficient furfuryl alcohol (FAL) alcoholysis to ethyl levulinate (EL). From the comprehensive analysis, the abundant Brønsted and Lewis acidity distribution, enhanced reducibility ability, and the synergistic effect between Zn and Mo were found in Zn1Mo1–TiO2. Specially, Zn played an important role in enhancing acidity strength and reducibility from NH3-TPD and H2-TPR profiles, whereas Mo exhibited the highest FAL adsorption capacity. The simulative structure with the adjacent Zn–Mo and non-adjacent Zn–Mo with O vacancies in TiO2 showed no difference in FAL adsorption energy and bader charge transfer capacity. After optimization, Zn1Mo1–TiO2 exhibited the highest FAL conversion (98 %) and EL yield (80 %) with negligible 2-(ethoxymethyl)furan (EMF) and 5-ethoxy-5-(ethyl-oxidaneylidene) pentan-2-one (intermediate 4) yield under optimum condition (50 mg Zn1Mo1–TiO2, 170 °C, 7 h). Most importantly, the catalyst recyclability was performed in continuous flow until 700 min without obvious EL yield decrease. The rational design of the cost-effective bimetallic based TiO2 will drive the green and efficient EL production in industrial scale.

One-pot assembly of sulfated lignin/Zr coordination polymer for efficient alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol to methyl levulinate

Biomass-derived alkyl levulinates are considered to be ideal fuel additives, and the construction of green and economic catalysts for the production of alkyl levulinates was still a challenging goal. In this work, a facile method for the synthesis of sulfated lignin/Zr coordination polymer (Zr-LSNa@SX) was developed through the coordination of sodium lignosulfonate with Zr ions by hydrothermal procedure. The catalytic performance of prepared Zr-LSNa@SX for the direct conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FA) to methyl levulinate (ML) was studied and a 73.1 % yield of ML was achieved at 180 °C in 180 min. The as-prepared sulfated lignin/Zr coordination polymer was characterized using SEM, FT-IR, and Py-FTIR techniques, and it was determined that the Brønsted acid sites of the catalyst played a crucial role in the conversion of FA to ML in methanol. This work provided a facile method for constructing the green and economical bio-based solid acid catalyst which will greatly extend the application of bio-based materials in the acid-catalyzed reaction.

MOX-TiO2 (M=Pt, Pd, Ru) for alcoholysis reaction from furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate

Simple noble metal oxides (PtOx, PdOx, RuOx) based titanium dioxide (Pt–TiO2, Pd–TiO2, Ru–TiO2) were prepared using a facile sol-gel method. The conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FAL) to ethyl levulinate (EL) was studied. Full characterizations were performed using XRD, XPS, Raman and in situ FT-IR. An in-depth study of acidic strength and sites distribution (Brønsted or Lewis) was conducted by NH3-TPD, pyridine-IR. The profiles of H2-TPR and O2-TPD suggested enhanced reducibility and optimum oxygen storage capacity in Pt–TiO2. Remarkable FAL conversion (94.4%), EL yield (89.6%) with productivity (21.3 × 103 molEL/mmolPt h) and TOF (22.5 × 103 molFAL/mmolPt h) were obtained. Metal productivity follows the order: Pt (21.3 × 103 molEL/mmolPt h) > Ru (11.5 × 103 molEL/mmolRu h) > Pd (3.6 × 103 molEL/mmolPd h). Two different reaction pathways were proposed. From computational calculations of charge density differences and Ead value, a robust electron transfer capacity was found in Pt–TiO2, as well as an advantageous FAL adsorption as compared to other catalytic systems.

Regulation of acid/basic properties of Zr-Beta zeolite for efficient conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Zr-Beta zeolites with different acid/basic properties were prepared by hydrothermal and post-synthesis methods and subsequent alkaline treatment. The acid/basic properties of Zr-Beta zeolites were characterized by FT-IR spectra of hydroxyl region and probe molecule adsorption (CD3CN, pyridine and CHCl3). The effects of the acid/basic properties of Zr-Beta zeolites on the conversion of furfural (FUR) to furfuryl alcohol (FAL) via Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction were investigated and discussed. The results indicate that both Brønsted acid sites, including strong and weak Brønsted acid sites, and Lewis acid sites are effective for conversion of FUR, but high yield of FAL can only be obtained over Zr-Beta with sole Lewis acid sites of framework Zr due to the further conversion of FAL to furfuryl ether, angelica lactone and levulinate ester over Brønsted acid sites. Therefore, Al-free Zr-Beta(h) synthesized in fluoride media is more active and selective than the post-synthesized counterpart. Alkali (earth) metal cations modified Zr-Beta(h) can further eliminate weak Brønsted acid sites of silanols and at the same time generate basic sites. Thus, the activity and selectivity of Zr-Beta(h) are further enhanced. 99.5 % of FAL yield was obtained over Na-Zr-Beta(h) with 99.8 % of FUR conversion at 120 °C for 4 h.

Prepared Sulfonic-Acid-Based Ionic Liquid for Catalytic Conversion of Furfuryl Alcohol to Ethyl Levulinate.

Efficient utilization of Brønsted acids has been advanced through the synthesis of a novel pyridinium propyl sulfonic acid ionic liquid catalyst, [PSna][HSO4]. Employing niacin and 1,3-propanesulfonic lactone, the synthesis aimed to achieve a catalyst that combines atom-efficiency with stability. Optimal catalytic activity was demonstrated at a temperature of 110 °C over a 2 h reaction time, resulting in a furfuryl alcohol conversion and ethyl levulinate yield of 97.79% and 96.10%, respectively. Notably, the extraction and recovery of [PSna][HSO4] exhibited commendable repeatability with up to five cycles, maintaining furfuryl alcohol conversion and ethyl levulinate yield at 93.74% and 88.17%, which highlights the catalyst's durability. Density flooding theory (DFT) calculations were employed to determine the most probable reaction pathways and identify all possible transition states and the reaction energy barriers overcome at each step of the reaction.

Optimization and kinetics study for the conversion of furfuryl alcohol towards ethyl levulinate using sulfonic acid functionalized catalyst

Abstract In the present work, furfuryl alcohol (FAL) alcoholysis towards ethyl levulinate (EL) was studied over a mesoporous SO3H-SBA-15 catalyst. The effect of various operating parameters i.e., temperature, catalyst dose, furfuryl alcohol amount, and time was studied and optimized via robust Response Surface Methodology through central composite rotatable designs (CCRD) method on the conversion of FAL to EL. According to Response Surface Methodology, under optimum reaction conditions viz. temperature 110 °C, catalyst dose 0.42 g, time 3 h, and FAL amount of 1.46 g, maximum EL yield (95 %) was recorded. Further, the effect of reaction parameters on the kinetics of the said reaction was also examined, suggesting the second-order kinetic concerning all operating parameters. Eventually, the reusability of the catalyst is evident in a decrease of almost 40 % yield towards EL in the fourth cycle.

Cooperative biomass-derived furfural synthesis and H2 evolution in one photoredox cycle over a MnxCd1-xS/Ti3C2 MXene Schottky junction structure

Selective and efficient photocatalytic transformation of biomass-derived platform molecules to high-value-added fuels or chemicals is a great challenge for green chemistry, especially utilizing visible light energy and earth-abundant catalytic materials. In this work, we report a 1D/2D MnxCd1-xS/Ti3C2 (MCSTC-X) Schottky junction structure to achieve efficient photocharge separation/transfer via in-situ interfacial self-assembly strategy. Under visible light illumination, the optimized MCSTC-7.5 catalyst enables the selective conversion of furfuryl alcohol into furfural with a production rate of 764.3 μmol·g−1·h−1, accompanied by water splitting into H2 with a generation rate of 756.5 μmol·g−1·h−1. Benefiting from the internal electric field in the Schottky junction structure, the efficient separation and transfer of photoinduced charge carriers are realized in one photoredox cycle. Moreover, a plausible reaction mechanism for the photocatalytic selective valorization of furfuryl alcohol to furfural and H2 evolution is proposed. Hopefully, this work would open a new avenue for sustainable and practical production of solar chemicals and fuels by rationally designing 1D/2D Schottky junction.

Biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol by indigenous Bacillus species of industrial effluent-contaminated sites: estimation, biokinetics and toxicity assessment of bio-transformed metabolites.

Furfuryl alcohol (FA) and other furanic compounds have garnered considerable attention in the quest for sustainable alternatives. FA-based resins have been used in various sectors that entail the release of FA into the environment. Hence, to ensure sustainability in this scenario, devising a dependable approach to its degradation is imperative. Given the crucial role of bacterial strains in the biodegradation of various organic pollutants, this study investigates the microbial degradation of FA, using bacterial strains isolated from sites that are constantly exposed to industrial waste. Three potential isolates were identified as B. paramycoides, B. cereus, and B. tequilensis by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At a concentration of 300µg/ml, these isolates demonstrated efficient FA degradation; 60-70% (at 300µg/ml FA) and 50-60%, (at 500µg/ml FA). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis further supported the result that the bacterial isolates consumed FA as the carbon source. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) facilitates the detection of the major metabolic intermediate product in which FA gets transformed. The prominent peaks at 113 and 119m/z obtained in the MS spectra of the degraded FA samples indicated the possibility of the conversion of FA into furoic acid or levulinic acid. The phytotoxicity bioassay findings revealed the non-toxic nature of the bio-transformed products as compared to pure FA. This investigation presents the initial documentation of the FA degradative potential of Bacillus strains, thereby augmenting the understanding of the prospective implementation of Bacillus species in industrial waste treatment projects.

A novel sulfonated solid acid catalyst for efficient conversion of furfuryl alcohol to n-butyl levulinate fuel bioadditive

Furfuryl alcohol (FOL), as a cheap green biomass derivative, has high potential application value in the production of various biomass chemicals. In this work, a sulfonic acid functional porous organic polymer-coated carbon nanotubes catalyst (CNTs@PDVTA-SO3H) was successfully prepared. The structure of as-prepared catalysts was confirmed by TG/DTG, Raman spectra, TEM, FT-IR, N2 adsorption-desorption, and XPS measurements. The catalytic properties of CNTs@PDVTA-SO3H were evaluated for the synthesis of n-butyl levulinate (BL) via the alcoholysis of FOL. It was found that the 99.1 % yield of BL was achieved under optimal conditions. The apparent activation energy of FOL to 2-bufurdoxy methyl-furan (BMF) and BMF to BL was 58.08 kJ/mol and 35.38 kJ/mol, respectively. This work provides a new avenue for the preparation of alkyl levulinates using FOL as raw material.

In-situ hydrothermal synthesis of Al-rich Cu@ZSM-5 catalyst for furfuryl alcohol upgrading to pentanediols

Bifunctional metal-acid catalysts have been widely used in the process of upgrading the molecules of biomass. As an important bifunctional catalyst, metal @ zeolite exhibits excellent sintering resistance and efficient catalytic performance, which is significant for improving practical applications. While the development of Al-rich zeolite-confined nanocluster catalysts is still a considerable challenge. In this paper, Cu@ZSM-5 (SiO2/Al2O3 = 40) catalyst with Al-rich ZSM-5 zeolite-confined copper nanoclusters were designed and synthesized by the in-situ ligand-assisted hydrothermal crystallization method. The average size of the encapsulation metal clusters was only 2.3 nm after treatment at 400°C for 2 h in a hydrogen environment, which exhibits excellent thermal stability. 27Al MAS NMR and Pyridine-adsorbed IR (Py-IR) spectra confirmed that Al was successfully introduced into the zeolite framework. The intimate metal- Brønsted acidic site distribution enables complete conversion of furfuryl alcohol and 92.1 % selectivity of pentanediols. DFT calculations revealed that the high catalytic activity in catalyzing the ring opening of furfuryl alcohol to pentanediols could be attributed to the unique electronic effect in the Al-rich catalyst Cu@ZSM-5 (SiO2/Al2O3 = 40). The in-situ ligand-assisted hydrothermal crystallization method will be very attractive regarding the simplicity required for industrial production. The Al-rich Cu@ZSM-5 (SiO2/Al2O3 = 40) catalyst was endowed with rich and dense metal-Brønsted acidic sites by a simple in-situ synthesis method, providing a practical and feasible path for the high-value utilization of biomass molecules.

Pyrolysis of nickel salt@cellulose to prepare Ni/C catalyst with tunable hydrogenation and acid site for the selective hydrogenation of furfuryl alcohol

Ni/C catalysts could be prepared via pyrolysis of biomass impregnated with nickel salts, while varied anions of nickel salt impact not only catalytic behaviors of Ni/C catalyst, but also property/composition of resulting biochar/bio-oil. In this work, pyrolysis of the cellulose with Ni(NO3)2 or NiCl2 was investigated, and the resulting pyrolysis products were analyzed while the Ni/C catalysts were evaluated in hydrogenation of furfuryl alcohol (FA) in water. The results indicated that the nitrate in Ni(NO3)2 catalyzed cracking reactions to form less biochar, less heavy organics with π-conjugated structures but more light ones. It also resulted in the Ni/C with high nickel dispersion and hence superior activity for hydrogenation of FA, producing dominantly tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA). In comparison, the chloride in NiCl2 enhanced dehydration of sugars to furans and condensation of heavy organics in the pyrolysis, which also created abundant Brønsted and Lewis acid sites, developed pore structures, but resulted in aggregation of metallic nickel. This decreased its capability for full hydrogenation of FA, but rendered the selective conversion of FA to cyclopentanone (CPO) and cyclopentanol (CPL) (sum yield: 91.0 %) with the aid of the acidic sites.

Introduction of NiSO4 to Ni/SiO2 catalyst in hydrogenation of furfuryl alcohol: Tailoring metallic nickel sites to switch major product from tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to cyclopentanone

Nickel-based catalysts are widely used in hydrogenation of varied types of organics. However, the nickel catalyst, like Ni/SiO2, lacks selectivity for hydrogenation of C=C and C=O. This is undesirable in some scenarios, such as conversion of biomass-derived furfuryl alcohol (FA) to cyclopentanone (CPO), a fine chemical, in which the C=C in furan ring of FA needs to be retained. In this study, introduction of sulfur species to Ni/SiO2 catalyst via loading NiSO4 was adopted to inhibit hydrogenation of furan ring in FA, aiming to achieve conversion of FA to CPO via ring-opening route. The results indicated that NiSO4 was reduced to NixSy, which further reacted with metallic Ni, forming Ni3S2 species and introducing the acidic sites with high-strength. The co-existence of NixSy and metallic Ni species effectively hindered hydrogenation of furan ring in FA, reducing tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) yield from 97% over Ni/SiO2 to 0 over the NiSx/SiO2 catalysts and shifting the major product to CPO. Nonetheless, the enhanced acidic sites along with the introduction of NiSO4 catalyzed polymerization of reaction intermediates, competing with the production of CPO. The acidic sites, however, facilitated hydrogenolysis of vanillyl alcohol to selectively produce (yield: 94.3%) in hydrogenation of vanillin. Characterization of hydrogenation of FA with in-situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) technique suggested the oxygen-containing functionalities in FA, instead of furan ring, could strongly adsorb on the NiS10/SiO2 catalyst, enhancing rearrangement reaction to form CPO while suppressing hydrogenation of the furan ring.

Iron(III) Arylhydrazone Complexes Immobilized on Amine-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica: Catalysts for the Valorization of Biomass-Derived Furfuryl Alcohol.

The aquasoluble FeIII complexes [Fe(H2 O)3 (L1 )] ⋅ 4H2 O (Fe1) and [Fe(H2 O)3 (L2 )] ⋅ 3H2 O (Fe2), bearing the basic forms of 5-chloro-3-(2-(4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene)hydrazinyl)-2-hydroxy-benzenesulfonic acid (H3 L1 ) and 3-(2-(2,4-dioxopentan-3-ylidene)hydrazinyl)-2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid (H3 L2 ), were incorporated for the first time into amine-functionalized SBA-15 support via an impregnation method. The successful preparation of the composites was confirmed by Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The resulting Fe1@aptesSBA-15 and Fe2@aptesSBA-15 composites were tested as the first SBA-15-based heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of furfuryl alcohol under mild reaction conditions (80 to 100 °C) and with an environmentally friendly oxidant (TBHP, 70 % aq. sol. with 1 : 1 oxidant/substrate molar ratio). The influence of various factors, such as reaction time, amounts of oxidant and catalyst, was investigated. The reaction time can be fairly reduced by adopting a microwave-assisted method allowing it to reach complete conversion after 0.25 h, in the absence of any added solvent or additive. Under these conditions, a vigorous furfuryl alcohol polymerization process occurred, with furfural as a by-product. Recycling studies were carried out for Fe2@aptesSBA-15 and after four consecutive runs, the overall conversion of furfuryl alcohol remained high (≥99 %), without an appreciable change in the obtained yield.

From biomass to C4 chemicals: selective transformation of bio-based furans to succinic anhydride in the presence of oxygen

A sustainable and photocatalytic technique for the production of succinic anhydride (SAN) from a bio-based furan platform compound is developed.

Highly active Cu-MFI catalyst for conversion of furfuryl alcohol to pentanediols

It is of great significance to use biomass-based furfuryl alcohol to produce oxygenated chemicals to replace petroleum-based chemicals. In this paper, a series of bifunctional Cu-MFI catalysts were developed, and the properties of biomass-based furfuryl alcohol to pentanediol, including 1,5-pentanediol and 1,2 pentanediol, were investigated. These catalysts were synthesized by ammonia evaporation method by loading copper nanoparticles on MFI molecular sieve systems with different silicon aluminum ratios. Among them, Cu-MFI (60)-AE catalyst containing abundantly Brønsted acid protons shows excellent performance, achieving 99.7% furfuryl alcohol conversion and 91% pentanediol selectivity under mild reaction conditions. The high catalytic activity can be attributed to the highly dispersed Cu species and Brønsted acid protons. Brønsted acid protons play a decisive role in the highly selective formation of 1,5-PDO. This paper can develop an economical and feasible path for converting furfuryl alcohol into high value-added fine chemicals.

Ni(OH)2 surface-modified hierarchical ZnIn2S4 nanosheets: dual photocatalytic application and mechanistic insights.

The simultaneous utilization of electrons and holes to couple photocatalytic H2 production with selective biomass transformation has attracted immense interest toward achieving sustainability in the fields of energy and chemical industry. In this study, by assembling highly dispersed Ni(OH)2 onto ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), efficient H2 evolution along with highly selective photocatalytic oxidation of furfuryl alcohol (FA) to furfural (FF) in pure water was achieved under anaerobic conditions. The H2 production and FA conversion rates over the optimal Ni-ZIS sample reached about 686 and 583 μmol g-1 h-1, respectively, about 4.9 and 1.7 folds as those of pure ZIS. Moreover, the formation of by-products with C-C coupling was dramatically suppressed over Ni-ZIS, resulting in higher selectivity for FF (97%), which is about 2.7-fold that of pure ZIS (36%). Deep mechanistic studies were conducted to reveal the structural evolution and cocatalyst effects of Ni(OH)2. This study not only offers a feasible paradigm for modifying the surface of catalysts to tune the photoactivity and selectivity for product-oriented alcohol oxidation coupled with efficient H2 production in water but also reveals the working mechanism of the deposited Ni(OH)2 over ZIS toward coupling reactions.

One-pot multi-step synthesis of gamma-valerolactone from furfuryl alcohol: Microwave vs continuous flow reaction studies

Mesoporous materials Al-SBA-15 have been synthesized and functionalized with different Al/Zr molar ratio and 0.5% Au and Ru, respectively, by a mechanochemical approach. Textural and structural properties of synthesized materials have been analysed by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray Diffraction) and N2 adsorption/desorption technique, among others. The catalytic activity of synthesized materials has been evaluated in the one-pot conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FAL) employing 2-propanol as H-donor solvent to obtain γ-valerolactone (GVL), both under microwave-assisted irradiation (CEM Discover® 2.0) and continuous flow conditions (Phoenix Flow ReactorTM, ThalesNano). All materials displayed conversions up to 99%, with a GVL selectivity of ca. 20–41% after one-hour reaction time. The study of the reusability of the materials showed a good GVL production during 3 reaction cycles employing both microwave-assisted and flow reaction conditions.

Cooperative Coupling of H2 O2 Production and Organic Synthesis over a Floatable Polystyrene-Sphere-Supported TiO2 /Bi2 O3 S-Scheme Photocatalyst.

Cooperative coupling of photocatalytic H2 O2 production with organic synthesis has an expansive perspective in converting solar energy into storable chemical energy. However, traditional powder photocatalysts suffer from severe agglomeration, limited light absorption, poor gas reactant accessibility, and reusable difficulty, which greatly hinders their large-scale application. Herein, floatable composite photocatalysts are synthesized by immobilizing hydrophobic TiO2 and Bi2 O3 on lightweight polystyrene (PS) spheres via hydrothermal and photodeposition methods. The floatable photocatalysts are not only solar transparent, but also upgrade the contact between reactants and photocatalysts. Thus, the floatable step-scheme (S-scheme) TiO2 /Bi2 O3 photocatalyst exhibits a drastically enhanced H2 O2 yield of 1.15mm h-1 and decent furfuryl alcohol conversion to furoic acid synchronously. Furthermore, the S-scheme mechanism and dynamics are systematically investigated by in situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption spectrum analyses. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal the mechanism of furoic acid evolution. The ingenious design of floatable photocatalysts not only furnishes insight into maximizing photocatalytic reaction kinetics but also provides a new route for highly efficient heterogeneous catalysis.

Preparation of an Ionic Liquid Based on Polystyrene Microspheres to Catalyze the Conversion of Furfuryl Alcohol to Ethyl Levulinate

AbstractExhaustion of petroleum resources is seriously accelerating, hence, it is crucial to find renewable energies and change the global energy consumption structure. Biomass energy is the only carbon ‐ containing energy currently available and is irreplaceable in the preparation of fuels and chemicals. This study focuses on the transformation of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinic acid ester using our prepared catalyst consisting of ionic liquid on polystyrene microspheres. The catalyst was characterized by IR, TG, XRD, BET and XPS techniques. In the presence of our catalyst, the conversion of furfuryl alcohol and ethyl levulinic acid yield was 98.54 % and 92.41 %, respectively. Repeated experiments showed that the acidic sites on the catalyst were occupied, slightly decreasing catalytic performance. However, after soaking and washing in concentrated sulfuric acid the catalytic activity was recovered, indicating immobilization on catalyst's surface and its stability during the reaction.